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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Hi-fi hunters gather for Grants Pass Record Convention ... Man hospitalized after stabbing at Sams Valley party ... Three rescued after boat capsizes near Shady Cove ... Hi-fi hunters gather for Grants Pass Record Convention ... Man hospitalized after stabbing at Sams Valley party ... Three rescued after boat capsizes near Shady Cove ... PUBLIC SAFETY Fire destroys Ashland mobile home Difficult access slows firefighters' response Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Mar. 12, 2016 at 3:50 PM Updated Mar 12, 2016 at 6:26 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Mar. 12, 2016 at 3:50 PM Updated Mar 12, 2016 at 6:26 PM » Social News A muddy driveway slowed firefighters' response to a blaze that destroyed a double-wide mobile home north of Ashland this afternoon, sending a column of smoke into the sky that could be seen from Interstate 5. No one was hurt in the fire, which was called in by the homeowner at 1:55 p.m. at 1347 Frank Hill Road, a rural area in the hills west of Highway 99 near Exit 19. The first engine arrived at 2:04 p.m., according to Fire District 5 engineer Dave Meads. Accessing the mobile home was a struggle because of a long, narrow, muddy driveway and rain that impacted traction, said District 5 Fire Chief Darin Welburn. "We have an engine that's stuck in a roadside ditch right now," Welburn said on scene, adding that the fire engine was the second or third one to arrive and needed to be towed out. "Sometimes it's difficult for our engines to operate in those conditions," Meads said. Welburn said overgrown vegetation also made accessing the property a challenge. "When you have a fire truck coming in or any large vehicle, most of the limbs that (a resident is) driving under every day are hitting right at the top half of our cabs," Welburn said. Welburn said there were multiple limbs with peeled bark lying on the driveway as fire crews made their way to the property. "You know, all of those were factors," Welburn said. The homeowner, whose name was not released, had arrived from work to find the home filled with smoke. When she opened the door, the rush of oxygen escalated the fire, Welburn said. "I believe she had an extinguisher there but the smoke level was just so thick," Welburn said. "She did the correct thing, backed out of the house and initiated a call to 911, and waited for our crews to arrive on scene." Medford Fire-Rescue also responded. The fire was knocked down as of 4:15 p.m., Meads said. Welburn advised those living on rural property to ensure that their addresses are clearly marked, that their driveways are easily accessible even in wet weather and that there's plenty of clearance for fire engines to pass. Because of the wet conditions, the fire did not spread beyond the mobile home, Welburn said. The homeowner was uninsured but had a place to spend the night and would be assisted by Red Cross, Welburn said. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Mar. 12, 2016 at 3:50 PM Updated Mar 12, 2016 at 6:26 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501